Social psychology is like studying how people behave and communicate when they’re together in groups or teams. It looks at how we see others, and how being in a group can change the way we act. Think of it as understanding how we act when we’re with others, especially at work.
Types of relationships in a work team
According Harvard Business review conflict management is one of the biggest fears held by new managers, and for good reason. In the UK, around 38% of employees experience interpersonal conflict per year, and in the U.S., employees spend almost three hours involved in conflict every week. Added up, conflict can consume up to 40% of a manager’s time.In a work team, people can have different kinds of relationships. There are three main types:
1. Friendly Relationships: This is when people get along well, like friends. They can praise each other or give feedback, but it’s not great if one person is the boss and the other is not, because that can cause problems.
2. Senior and Junior Relationships: These can be like a mentor teaching a student or a boss managing an employee. It can be helpful, but it can also lead to envy or conflicts.
3. Junior and Senior Relationships: These are the reverse of the previous type. Sometimes a less experienced person looks up to someone with more experience, or a junior person just does what their boss says.
What Can Cause Conflict in a Team?
Conflicts can arise in a team when someone:
- Doesn’t enjoy socializing or talking with others.
- Complains or reports on their coworkers.
- Questions someone’s competence in their job.
- Engages in gossip.
- Can’t hide their bad mood.
- Is overly direct.
- Is overly certain they’re always right.
- Doesn’t handle feedback well.
- Compares their current job to a previous one.
- Talks loudly on the phone or in the office.
- Tries too hard to excel (which others might perceive as showing off).
Factors Affecting the Psychological Climate in a Team
The “psychological climate” in a team refers to the overall mood among its members. It’s influenced by:
- Job satisfaction.
- Interpersonal relationships (people with similar personalities often get along better).
- Trust among team members.
- Communication and reactions within the team.
- The nature of the team’s tasks (tedious or risky work can impact it).
- Leadership style (democratic, authoritarian, lenient) of the team’s leader.
How to Assess the Psychological Climate in a Team?
To gauge the team’s mood:
In a positive climate:
- People are content, hardworking, and cheerful.
- Fairness and respect prevail.
- They achieve good results.
- Team members assist one another.
- Successes are celebrated, and support is provided during challenging times.
In a negative climate:
- People are moody and confrontational.
- Competition is intense.
- Fairness and equality are absent.
- People are passive or isolated.
- Successes and failures hold little significance.
- Factions or cliques form within the team.
Rules of Communication in the Team
To maintain positive relationships at work, follow these simple rules:
- Be polite and friendly.
- Avoid personal conversations in inappropriate settings.
- Keep your personal life private.
- Don’t try to assert authority over your coworkers.
- Respect your team’s established traditions.
- Maintain a professional appearance.
How to Mend Team Relations after a Conflict?
If a conflict arises, follow these steps to restore harmony:
- Take a deep breath and relax.
- Reflect on the positive qualities of the person you had a conflict with.
- Try to understand their perspective.
- Keep your composure, as staying calm is your best tool during an argument.
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